Karen Cox – Associate Non-Executive Director

Professor Karen Cox joined the Trust Board in June 2019.

Karen is currently Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Kent, a position she has held since August 2017. She graduated from King’s College London with a BSc (Hons) and her Registered General Nurse (RGN) qualification in 1991.

She has held a number of clinical posts in Oxford, Southampton, Gloucestershire and Nottingham, specialising in Oncology and Community Health Care (District Nursing).

Karen completed her PhD at the University of Nottingham, funded by the Cancer Research Campaign and was appointed Professor in 2002. She served as the University’s Head of the School of Nursing 2002 – 2007, joined the senior leadership team as a Pro Vice-Chancellor in 2008 and became Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2013 before taking up her role as Vice-Chancellor at the University of Kent in 2017.

Karen was a board member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) until May 2023 having served for eight years on the Council. She is also a Director of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association and was elected to the Universities UK Board for a three-year term from August 2022.